On May 16, 2019, Decatur police arrested a mother who used a belt to whip her 17-year-old daughter after finding her in bed with her boyfriend. Police found belt-like welts and bruises on both of the girl’s arms. The Illinois domestic battery victim told the police that her mother made her stay home from school for two days to let her injuries heal. The Macon County Jail released the mother on $5,000 bail.
Illinois Domestic Battery Law
An Illinois domestic battery occurs when someone knowingly or intentionally causes bodily harm or makes physical contact that is insulting or provoking. In this case, the mother used a belt to make insulting contact with her daughter’s body resulting in a domestic battery charge. If you have been charged with domestic battery, you will face Illinois’ uniquely strict post-arrest process.
Illinois’ zero tolerance for domestic battery requires that the police take the mother mentioned above before a judge to set bail. She could not have any contact with her daughter for 72 hours. The zero-tolerance rule bars defendants accused of domestic violence from returning home or making any contact with their alleged victim. This means that if you have been accused of domestic violence against your partner, you cannot go home and apologize to the family member you allegedly battered and ask him or her to take back those accusations.
If you have been arrested for domestic battery, we recommend that you do not admit to pushing or grabbing another person even if you think you were justified in doing so by self-defense. If you admit to touching someone, even if it was a simple touch like poking someone gently with your finger in an argument, the police could see this as an admission of domestic battery. If you are arrested for domestic battery, you should invoke your right to remain silent and reach out to a domestic battery criminal defense attorney right away.
The Social Stigma of a Domestic Battery Conviction
If you are convicted of domestic battery, you will have a criminal record for the rest of your life. Having a criminal record comes with serious ramifications for your personal and professional life.
The only way to avoid a criminal record following you around for the rest of your life is if the court dismisses your case, finds you not guilty at trial, or if your charge is amended. Many potential employers will run background checks on you before hiring you and they will find your domestic battery conviction. Also, there is a social stigma that comes with having a domestic battery conviction, particularly if you are back in the dating market and your potential new partner learns of your conviction.
You have one shot to avoid the burden of having a criminal record for the rest of your life. Use that shot to contact an experienced Illinois domestic battery criminal defense attorney who will negotiate and effectively fight to have your case dismissed or to be found not guilty. Contact Glasgow & Olsson by phone or by filling out our online form. We help clients in Cook, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Dupage counties.
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